If you notice white patches on your throat or on your tonsils then it is always best to have them checked out because, left untreated, they can lead to more serious conditions. However, there are many natural remedies you can use to help ease the discomfort associated with throat infections.

If you have noticed white dots on your throat, what are the main causes of them?

What Causes White Spots on Throat?

There are a number of different reasons why white spots or patches can appear on your throat or tonsils. Here are the most common reasons:

1. Strep Throat

One of the reasons for the appearance of white spots on the throat is a bacterial infection called strep throat. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria.

Although strep throat mainly affects children and teenagers, it can also affect adults. While one of the symptoms of a strep infection is a sore throat, it only accounts for around 30% of throat infections in children and about 10% in adults.1

Apart from causing your throat to be sore, some of the other symptoms of strep throat are:

Pain when you swallow

A fever

Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes

White spots on tonsils

Family physician, Dr. Kathleen Romito, says that if you have cold symptoms like a blocked or runny nose and sneezing, then you probably don’t have a strep throat.2

There are many natural remedies which can help to treat mild to moderate cases of strep throat. However, if you have a more serious case, you should always seek medical advice. If left untreated, strep throat can lead to serious infections in other parts of the body because the bacteria can spread to other organs. The most serious complication of strep throat is rheumatic fever.3

Even if your doctor has prescribed a course of medications to treat strep throat, you may still use natural remedies alongside to help the treatment (but remember to consult with your doctor about it).

One of the natural remedies for strep throat is cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin which has proven antibacterial properties. For example, a study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that capsaicin was effective against Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria and it can help prevent the infection spreading to deep tissues.4 It is also effective in relieving pain5 and reducing inflammation.6

You can make a paste with cayenne pepper by mixing 1 teaspoon with half a cup of coconut oil or other carrier oil, or buy a ready made cream in the drugstore.

Because capsaicin is strong and might hurt your throat, and since it is well absorbed by your skin, apply the capsaicin cream or paste to the skin on your throat and on the swollen lymph nodes on your neck. For more information, please read my article about the best natural remedies for strep throat.

It is good to remember that strep throat is highly contagious and you should make sure that you wash your hands often and cover your mouth if you cough. Avoid sharing utensils like cups, knives, and forks.

Strep throat can cause white spots on throat

2. Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis can also cause white spots on your throat. Tonsillitis happens when the tonsils, the 2 lymph nodes located at the back of your throat, become infected and inflamed. It can be caused by a bacterial infection (like streptococcal bacteria) or a viral infection. The most visible sign of tonsillitis is white spots on tonsils.

Other symptoms associated with tonsillitis are a sore throat, fever, headache, stiff neck, and swollen tonsils. Quinsy is a complication of tonsillitis and it causes pain on one side of your throat.

If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus then very often natural remedies can help to treat and relieve the symptoms.

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One of the most effective natural ways to treat tonsillitis is to gargle with salt water. All you have to do is to mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz glass of water. Gargle several times during the day.

Or you can make a delicious Echinacea tea by steeping Echinacea and ginger in hot water. When it has cooled add some lemon and honey and drink 2-3 times a day. All of these ingredients can help to relieve tonsillitis. For more detailed information, read my article on how to use Echinacea tea for a great health.

3. Tonsilloliths

Also related to the tonsils is a condition called tonsilloliths, which is commonly called tonsil stones and they look like white spots on the back of the throat.

Tonsil stones are actually white formations on your tonsils at the back of your throat.

Tonsilloliths form when “debris” like bacteria, mucus, food and dead skin cells get trapped in and around your tonsils. In time they calcify, causing them to look like small white spots on your tonsils. Depending on their size, they could also irritate the back of your throat. However, many people with tonsil stones can’t see them.

One common symptom of tonsil stones is chronic bad breath. A study published in the British Dental Journal found that 75% of people with halitosis (chronic bad breath) also had tonsilloliths.7

One of the best ways to prevent tonsil stones forming is to practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice a day, regularly flossing, and brushing your tongue. This can help to remove bacteria and the “debris” that can come together to form stones.

If you have tonsil stones, there are a number of natural ways to get rid of them. Sometimes, just a salt water gargle is enough to help dislodge the stones.

4. Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is usually a result of yeast infection that is caused when there is an imbalance of “good” bacteria in the body and it allows fungal infections to develop. For example, a Candida fungal infection in the mouth is an example of oral thrush.

Oral thrush can appear as white patches on your throat, tongue, tonsils, and roof of your mouth and can leave you with a ‘cottony’ feeling in your mouth.

The Mayo Clinic reports that one of the most common reasons for oral thrush is taking antibiotics, which disrupt the balance of bacteria in your body.8

If you are taking antibiotics then it is recommended that you also take probiotics to help restore the natural flora in your digestive system. This can help prevent outbreaks of oral thrush. A study published in the journal Critical Care Medicine showed that probiotics helped to prevent candida infections while children were taking antibiotics.9

5. Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis (sometimes just called mono) is an infectious disease caused by a virus (Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV) and although it isn’t a serious illness, it can affect a person’s daily activities. It usually leaves a person feeling tired, with sore muscles, headaches, and a loss of appetite. Mononucleosis can also cause white spots on your throat.

Mononucleosis is a very infectious disease and it tends to affect mainly teens and young adults. However, most adults already have antibodies against mononucleosis which prevent them from catching it again. Mononucleosis is generally spread by saliva and is sometimes referred to as the “kissing” disease.

One of the symptoms of mono is sore throat, often with white patches on the tonsils (which may look like strep throat). Other symptoms of mono are fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache and fatigue.

Dr. E. Gregory Thompson from WebMD said that one complication with mono is an enlarged spleen, and it is recommended that people with mono avoid lifting heavy items and engaging in contact sports to reduce the risk of spleen injury.10

If you have mononucleosis the best course of treatment is plenty of rest and to drink plenty of fluids. If you have a sore throat, then you can use natural treatments such as calendula tea, homemade syrup or natural pain killers (that you may already have in your kitchen).

Mononucleosis – white spots on throat

6. Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a less common condition which can cause white spots on throat and mouth. Mild leukoplakia isn’t classed as a dangerous disease and will usually go away on its own. However, on rare occasions, more serious cases have been linked to oral cancer.11 It is common in people who smoke or chew tobacco, although it can also be caused by other irritants in the mouth.

Leukoplakia can sometimes be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is where the acid from the stomach comes back up into the esophagus. Common symptoms of GERD are heartburn or acid indigestion. A study published in Medscape General Medicine said that GERD can also cause leukoplakia.12

Doctor of dental surgery, Dr. Michael Friedman recommends removing the source of irritation. This can mean that a person stops smoking or using other tobacco products.13 If the dentist or doctor thinks that it is a serious case, then a biopsy may be taken. However, most cases of leukoplakia are mild and go away on their own.